Digital disruption is everywhere, including in the practice of internal audit. An audit leader joined the JofA podcast recently to discuss how technology can be harnessed instead of feared or resisted.

Anthony Pugliese, CPA/CITP, CGMA, president and CEO of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), said it is understandable for fast-moving technology to be daunting. But such technology presents opportunities as well as risks. One tie-in is the new tools’ ability to attract the next generation of talent for auditing.

In this episode, Pugliese reviews recent IIA research, reminds auditors about the importance of curiosity, and discusses some of the misconceptions facing the profession.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· Highlights of recent research by The IIA about top risks.

· Some of the “misconceptions” about internal auditing, according to Pugliese.

· How the “slow trek” of blockchain integration into processes differs from today’s tech implementations.

· The “most golden thing” auditors can do.

· A reminder of the timeline for adoption of international auditing standards.

Scott Simmons is co-managing partner at the firm Crist Kolder Associates. In more than two decades handling executive searches for clients, he’s seen the qualifications for the CFO role change dramatically. The pressure on CFOs to deliver value has also grown. While some skills remain constant, of course, so do the paths to landing a CFO role.

In this JofA podcast episode, Simmons takes listeners through some of the recent statistics in the firm’s annual Volatility Report, discussing the importance of escaping one’s comfort zone and developing new skills to be in line for a job as finance chief.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• The number of CFOs at larger companies who have Big Four accounting backgrounds.
• The companies and C-suite positions Crist Kolder tracks in its annual Volatility Report
• How candidates can develop CFO skills without first becoming a CFO.
• Why an investor relations rotation should be something aspiring CFOs “jump” to accept.
• The major college athletics conference that has produced the most CFOs in companies tracked in by Volatility Report.

In less than four weeks, IRS officials and tax practitioners will gather in Washington for the AICPA & CIMA National Tax Conference. The event begins six days after Election Day, when it’s possible there will be clarity about election results and about the future of tax legislation.

On this episode of the podcast, two speakers closely tied to the conference explain what it will offer attendees, detailing agenda specifics. April Walker, CPA, CGMA, is lead manager–Tax Practice & Ethics at AICPA & CIMA, and Brandon Lagarde, CPA, J.D., LL.M., is chair of the event’s planning committee. Walker hosts the Tax Section Odyssey podcast.

Also, a new AICPA & CIMA CEO was named Wednesday. That news is mentioned at the start of the episode.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· What Lagarde and Walker look forward to about this year’s conference.

· The potential for learning more during the conference about the future of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

· The reasons Lagarde called the event “the most important conference” for tax practitioners.

· A look ahead to a session on transforming tax practices to include year-round advisory services.

· The topics in a quiz-focused session on tax ethics.

· Why Lagarde says attendees shouldn’t worry about attending one concurrent session over another.